I use the multi-colored message shown above to convey the basic truth that none of us are excluded from the love of God, from the table which Jesus has set to feed the entirety of mankind with his bread and his wine, his body and blood. Do not allow anyone to tell you that your race, your creed, your sex, your orientation, or your past disqualifies you from sitting with Jesus. No earthly being has the authority to deny you a seat. Jesus’ invitation is eternal, unconditional, and it specifically has your name on it.

In the world of evangelists, Billy Graham’s legacy continues to command the respect and admiration of a great many people, believers and non-believers. He shared on his blog site in 2012 THE THREE INVITATIONS OF CHRIST

“Come to me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” Matthew 11:28

Jesus said to them, “Follow me, and I will make you become fishers of men.” Mark 1:17

Jesus said, “Abide in me and I in you.” John 15:4

These invitations are an ongoing process. I have no qualms accepting that I don’t have all the pieces to the God puzzle. Sometimes I don’t even know what the questions should be. GOD IS A MYSTERY. And I believe that is a good thing for a doubter and skeptic like me. Keep me guessing so that I continue searching. Just when I believe I’ve reached that “Aha” moment or a fascinating revelation, another doubt and question arises.

But, the process doesn’t change, does it? Run to Him when life gets heavy and overwhelming, learn of his ways and take his yoke upon me. Determine what my ego wants versus what Jesus says in his words and teachings. It all comes down to surrender. Do I want to continue in my burdensome ways or will I turn it over to the Master, the problem-solver?

Learn and then share with others what has been discovered. Those of us in addiction recovery programs know the necessity of service to others. We share our war stories and then extend our experience, strength and hope. Alcoholics and addicts are invited just as they are to the tables of the meeting rooms. The beauty and success of AA, CR, and other recovery programs depends on the fellowship putting others before personal interests. Those questioning, new arrivals are invited to share our repurposed lives, to sit at the table of miracles. We become fishers of men.

Finally, Jesus invites us to abide with the God of our understanding in a peace that surpasses anything which the world has to offer. To me this means building and cherishing the most intimate relationship which I could ever know. When I am willing to surrender, when I am willing to pull my head out of self-serving ways, when I am willing to be still and know, then we can be as one walking this path through the joys and travails of an earthly life. God dwells in me and I in Him. That is the solidarity of “I am You, You are me, and we are One.”

Believe me, it is not always where my head and heart dwell. This challenge which is called the human condition tries to detour me, lie to me, and steal me away. But, running to my Lord is no longer the option of last resort. I have learned to go there as quickly as possible.

He said, “Come unto me and learn of me, my yoke is easy and I will give you rest.”

6 “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.

7 “Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy.

8 “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.

9 “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.

10 “Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

11 “Blessed are you when men revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. 12 Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so men persecuted the prophets who were before you.” Matthew 5:1-12

What’s that you say? Blessed are the sick is not one of the Beatitudes. Are you sure? Hmmm, maybe I’m just feeling especially needy today and wanting another blessing. My body has been plagued with this year’s influenza “du jour” for the past ten days and I am, well for lack of better words, sick of it. The bug has visited every part of my body and is now considering follow-up visits. I won’t have it. Enough is enough.

A friend, not known for encouragement nor social tact, commented that this is God’s way of using me in another person’s spiritual walk. Really? Obviously, God and I need to have a talk. I can visit the sick, I can write encouragement, I can hold another’s hand in solace, I can cook a dinner, I can run errands, I can mail a cute ‘get well’ card. But, I don’t see the benefit of puking for God.

“Son, you have so much to learn from me.”

“Lord?”

“Who else talks to you in your hour of need?”

Nowhere in Matthew 5: 1-12 does it say, “Blessed are the hale and hearty, the fit and healthy.” Each of the Beatitudes bestows a blessing on the weak and needy because it is there in that weakness, need, and abject powerlessness, that our Father can meet us and use us to further his work in our kingdoms. When I become absolutely incapable of controlling my body and my affairs is the time when Jesus can nominate another of his followers to step in and become a dispenser for his tender mercies.

That is one the most difficult parts of recovery. We have learned to love with patience and compassion, but allowing ourselves to be loved with patience and compassion is a challenge. Allowing our weakness and sickness to be a tool in another’s faith walk is not part of the ego’s game plan.

The great mystics speak of the need to give up the gaze upon the heavens for guidance and direction, but rather to descend into the masses of suffering and despair to discover the essence of a Savior. Religion often tells us to look up. Jesus teaches us to redirect our attentions downward where humanity suffers because that’s where He exists.

There are times when a person reflects upon things he or she has written or said and with a querying mind asks, “How can I ever justify what I aspire to achieve spiritually when my thoughts, words, and actions are so undeniably human?”

Actually, that ‘querying’ mind is often self-condemning, is it not? In these times of internal conflict we must remember that the spiritual progress promised in recovery programs, the Way of Jesus, and the Path of the Buddha are exactly what they claim to be, a course of progressive growth. They are the trek each person must take to become vessels of wisdom and compassion within the power of the Divine Essence. Undertaking this trek is not done with any expectation of perfection. Progress is the goal. Often the trail we walk slides off into a ravine of selfishness and unkind behavior, but pulling back onto the way forward is always awaiting.

The fellowships of AA (Alcoholics Anonymous) and CR (Celebrate Recovery) both recognize humanness and brokenness as elements of addictions. Their step programs offer, not a miracle cure, but rather a way of living which enables members to rise above this inherent human condition of self-absorption. Joining hands with like-minded men and women intent on becoming more than empty vessels tossed mercilessly on the seas of alcoholism, drug abuse, behavior addictions and emotional stress, these adventurers want not a perfect life, but a better life, a life of freedom from the prisons of self and ego.

Similarly, Jesus and the Buddha, holding all of creation in reverence, offered a lifestyle of service and compassion as the way to a personal heaven and a path to enlightenment. Their disciples were ordinary examples of humanity who became extraordinary trekkers. None of them were perfect. Insecurity, anger, ego plagued their journeys through earthly temptations. Yet, they understood that even though heaven or enlightenment was the desired outcome, a perfect life was not the path. Humans must endure growth through the vagaries of humanness in order to become the spiritual beings which a Creator has intended.

Those who follow the life of Jesus Christ as their example must remember that, along with his obvious love and compassion for his Father’s creation, he also endured the human life fraught with temptation, desire, insecurity and anger. According to the writings of the ancients, his public ministry lasted a scant 3 or 4 years before the crucifixion. Where was he before the ministry, what was he doing? Believing that Jesus traversed the same road of searching that every earthly human walks gives a great insight into the purpose of his life. Those who portray Jesus as perfect at birth from a virgin’s womb seem to be missing the entire reason for his story. Anybody can be perfect when born perfect. Only a totally human experience of failure and disappointment combined with joy and ecstasy provides the sojourner with the necessary tools to crawl from the depths of hell to a life of peace and contentment.